Easy opening carton



Feb. 27, 1962 GUYER 3,022,931

EASY OPENING CARTON Filed June 11. 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Reyna/d: Guyer ATTORNEY Feb. 27, 1962 R. GUYER 3,022,931

EASY OPENING CARTON Filed June .11. 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I 42 g 40 7 4/ 5y i L 12 1' &

z7 I l I I I I I I 20 I I I I I IN VENTOR Reyna/a: Guger ATTORNEY Unite This invention relates to an improvement in easy open-- ing cartons and deals particularly with a sealed end carton which is simple to open.

Many products require an enclosing carton for prop erly protecting the product. Most cartons which are of the ordinary sealed end type are somewhat diificult to open without the use of special tools. For example, it is often necessary to cut the top from the carton with a knife or to pry the various closing flaps apart with a flat bladed instrument. It is the object of the present inven# tion to eliminate this difiiculty.

A feature of the present invention resides in the provision of an economical carton which will properly contain a product and yet which may be opened without the use of tools. In order to accomplish this result, one of the larger closing flaps at one end of the container is provided with a weakened line of separation extending parallel to the free edge of the flap and parallel to the fold line connecting this flap to its-side wall. The opposite closing fiap, which folds into surface contact with the first mentioned larger closing fiap and which is adhered thereto in the operation of sealing the carton, is provided with a pair of short cut lines extending into a side edge of this flap. One of these short cut lines is arranged to coincide with the free edge of the first mentioned larger closing flap while the other of the short cut lines is designed to substantially coincide with the weakened line of separation. When the two flaps are adhered in superimposed relation, the carton closure may be opened by grasping the double thickness portions of the two larger flaps between the short cut lines in the uppermost of these flaps. By pulling upwardly, a strip of paperboard is torn away across the top of the carton so that the contents of the carton are exposed.

A feature of the present invention resides in the econ omy of the construction. The flaps forming the closure are preferably narrower than the width of the end wall panels of the carton so that when the two larger flaps are folded into superimposed relation, each of these larger flaps terminates short of the plane of the opposite side wall panel. Thus, the intermediate portions of the larger flaps overlap and the removable portion of the closure is spaced from the fold lines connecting both of the larger flaps to their respective side walls.

An added feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a carton formed of paperboard having a definite grain direction such as paperboard formed on a cylinder machine. The grain direction runs across the side wall panels and accordingly, across the closure flaps connected thereto. As a result the grain extends longitudinally of the weakened line of separation and of the short cut lines in the opposite flap. This is important as the strip defined between the weakened line of separation and the free edge of this flap can be pulled through the unweakened portion of the upper flap, the paperboard tearing along the grain.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a carton having a tear strip formed in the lower of a pair of superimposed flaps and defined by a weakened line of separation extending parallel to the fold line connecting this flap with its side wall. The weakened line of separation preferably comprises a out line extending virtually across the flap from one side States Patent edge to the other, but terminating sufficiently far from the side edges so that the tear striprwill fold with, and be supported by, the remainder of the flap. As a result when the double thickness portion of the two flaps is grasped and separated from the remainder of the flaps, the uncut portion of the lower flap is broken during the initial pull. Thereafter the strip forming a part of the lower flap is separate from the remainder of this flap and may be pulled upwardly through the upper lamination without difliculty.

These and other objects and novel features of my invention will be more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claim.

In the drawings forming a part of my specification:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the carton in sealed position.

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 showing the carton partially opened.

FIGURE 3 is a cross sectional view through the top of the carton in enlarged form showing the arrangements of parts therein.

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 showing the tear strip partially removed.

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the open carton.

FIGURE 6 is a diagrammatic view of the blank from which the carton is formed.

The carton blank is constructed as best illustrated in FIGURE 6 of the drawings. In the particular arrangement illustrated the blank includes an end wall 10 which is foldably connected along the fold line 11 to a side wall panel 12. The wall panel 12 is foldably connected along the fold line 13 to an end wall 14. The end wall 14 is connected by a fold line 15 to a sidewall panel 16. The side wall panel 16 is foldably connected along a fold line 17 to a glue flap 19. The fold lines 11, 13, 15 andably connected along a-fold line 20 to bottom closing flaps, a new suitable type. Such closing flaps 21, 22, 23 and 24 are foldably connected to the wall panels 10, 12, 14 and 16 respectively.

The top closure of the carton is formed by closing flaps hingedly connected to the upper edges of the wallpanels along a fold line 25 which is preferably parallel to the fold line 20. Closing flaps 26, 27, 29 and 30 are connected to the Wall panels 10, 12, 14 and 16 respectively. It will be noted that the flaps described are slightly shorter in length than the width of the end wall panels 10 and 14. In other words, when the flaps 27 and 39 are folded down into superimposed relation, they overlap but the ends of these flaps terminate short of the planes of the opposite Wall panels. This arrangement is provided in the interests of the economy and also to properly position the tear strip in a manner which will later be described.

The carton is formed with the grain of the paperboard extending in the direction of the arrow 31. The paperboard tears more easily in a direction parallel to this arrow 31 than across the grain.

The flap 27 is provided with a weakened line of separation 32 which extends parallel to the free edge 33 of this flap and also parallel to the fold line 25 connecting the flap 27 to the wall panel 12. In preferred form the weakened line of separation 32 comprises a out line extending completely through or virtually through the paperboard, the cut line terminating just short of the side edges 34 and 35 of the flap 27 so that the portion 36 of this flap, which is outwardly of the out line 32, is connected to the remainder of the flap by short connecting areas 40 and 41. These connecting areas are of suflicient size to hold the outer portion of the flap in a common plane with the remainder of the flap during the handling of the carton and during the closing operation thereof.

The flap 30 is provided with a pair of relatively short spaced out lines 42 and 43 which extend parallel to the fold line 25 connecting the flap 30 to the wall panel 16 and extending in right angular relation to the edge 44 of the flap 30. These cut lines 42 and 43 are spaced apart a distance equal to the distance between the weakened lines of separation 32 and the free edge 33 of the flap 27. The cut lines 42 and 43 are also positioned to substantially coincide with the weakened line 32 and the flap edge 33 when the flaps are in cartonclosing position.

The carton is formed in the usual manner by adhering the glue flap 19 in overlapping relation with the wall panel to form a tubular body. When the carton is used it is expanded into tubular form and one end of the carton is closed by securing the closing flaps in superimposed relation. For example, if the lower end is first closed, the flaps 21 and 23 are folded into a common plane. One of the larger flaps such as the flap 22 is folded into surface contact with the flaps 21 and 23 and the flap 24 is then folded into overlapping relation with the flap 22 and is adhered in surface contact therewith.

After the carton has been filled, the: other end of the carton is sealed. Either end may comprisethe first sealed end. Enclosing the upper end, the flaps 26 and 29 are folded into a common plane andthe larger flap 27 is folded to overlie the flaps 26 and 29. The flap 30 is next folded to overlie the fiap 27 and is adhered in surface contact therewith. When sealed the carton appears as indicated in FIGURE 1 of the drawings, the flaps being in the relative relation illustrated in FIGURE 3 of the drawings.

When it is desired to open the carton, the double thickness portion formed by the overlapping flaps 27 and 30 between the short cut lines 42 and 43 together with the outer strip portion 36 of the flap 27 is grasped and pulled upwardly. This upward force breaks the area of attachment 41 between one end of the flap portion 36 from the remainder of the flap 27 and permits the double thickness area between the short cut lines to be pulled upwardly. By continuing this upward pull in the manner shown in FIGURE 2 of the drawings, the strip portion 36 of, the flap 27 is pulled through the flap 30, this flap tearing along lines which are extensions of the short cut lines 42 and 43.

After the tear strip portion '36 and the portion of the flap 30 to which it is adhered are separated from the car ton, the carton flaps are free to be opened into the position illustrated in FIGURE 5 of the drawings thus exposing the carton contents for removal. This type of opener is normally used on cartons containing goods which are dispensed entirely at one time so that reclosing of the carton is not required. However, if the carton must be reclosed, the flaps 26, 29 and 27 close the major portion of the opening.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principles of construction and operation of my easy opening carton, and while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiment there0f, I desire to have it understood that obvious changes may be made within the scope of the. following claim without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

An easy opening carton including tubularly arranged side and end walls, and a closure at one end of said walls including flaps foldably connected to said side and end walls and folded into substantially right angular'relation thereto, the closing flaps on said end walls being folded into a common plane, the first side wall closing flap folded to overlie said end wall closing flaps and having a single weakened line of separation extending across the side wall closing flap parallel to, and spaced from, the free edge of said first side wall flap and parallel to, and substantially coextensive with, the line of fold connecting said side wall flap to its side wall, the remaining side wall flap overlying said first named side wall flap and adhered in surface contact thereto, and short cut lines extending into a side edge of said remaining side wall fiap at right angles thereto, said short cut lines substantially coincid ing with an end of said weakened line of separation and the free edge of said first side wall flap, respectively, said first side wall flap terminating with its free edge spaced mm the fold line connecting said remaining side wall flap to its side wall providing a space between the end wall closing flaps and the remaining side wall flap adjoining the free edge of said first named side wall flap, whereby the engagement of the free edge of, the first side wall flap is facilitated.

References Cited in the-fileof this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS.

2,351,812. Guyer June 20, 1944 2,679,349 Mullinix May 25, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 449,968, Great Britain July 8, 1936 505,179 Great Britain May 3, 1939 603,543. Great Britain June 17,1948. 

